By Gavin Boyle
Country music singer Brantley Gilbert shared that he is struggling to love his enemies after many celebrated the death of Charlie Kirk.
“I know my belief in Christianity encourages me to show love and show that to my brothers and sisters, and I’m having a hard time with that right now,” Gilbert told Fox News Digital last week. “I’ve always been on to try to keep my platform geared towards supporting active duty members, veterans, kids. We really try to keep our messages positive.”
“I was supposed to pray for those who were making comments like that, people whose hearts are in that place, and I’m just not there yet,” he added. “I’ll be honest, I’m angry. I think a lot of us are angry. A lot of us are fed up.”
Related: How Should Christians Respond to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination?
Gilbert speaks to a challenging part of the Christian walk which is that Jesus calls us not only to love our neighbor, but also to love our enemy.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus says in Matthew 5:43-48.
Jesus was the perfect example of this teaching, loving those who killed Him and asking them to be forgiven as He hung on the cross. Christians are called to follow in His footsteps, though it is extremely difficult.
While many people relate to Gilbert’s feelings, others continue to call for Christians to respond in love rather than hatred and violence. This radical response will not only help diffuse the unrest in our nation but also help our enemies see the love of Christ.
“You must have mercy for these people. I know there’s gonna be a lot of opinions. People are gonna be saying a lot of things right now about each other, but as believers in Jesus, we must show love,” said content creator David Latting. “We must show the mercy of Christ to those who are unaware of it. We must be the light in this world, not just another voice.”
“We must give the perspective of mercy, of grace, of peace, of patience. We must give the perspective of the voice of God to those who refuse to hear it, so that one day they may walk in the truth as we do now. Do not grow hopeless, my friends, do not grow bitter,” he added.
As we continue to grapple with Kirk’s assassination, please keep those on both sides of the political spectrum in your prayers and that our nation will find unity after this tragedy.
Read Next: Charlie Kirk’s Wife Clings to Faith After His Death ‘Our God … Is So Good’
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